Brushmaking machine



A. L. LE FEBVRE BRUSHMAKING MACHINE 4 Aug. 1,9, 1952 s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14. 1948 All@ 19, 1952 A. L.. LE FEBVRE BRUSHMAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14. 1948 A. L. LE FEBVRE.

BRUSHMAKING MACHINE Aug. 19, 1952 Filed Jan. 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lvl orne? Patented Aug. 19, 1952 The Fuller Brush 3C o mpany, Hartford, Conn.,

y a corporation of `Connecticut Y Application January 14, 194s-,seria1N0. '2,195V

12 Claims. (Gla 30D-+2) A mechanism embodying the' present vinve'ntio Vis particularly adapted` for use as: apart of' a 'brush makingmachine vof the type disclosed' in the application of' Alfred L. Le Febvre for. Brush Making Machine, Serial` No. 666,735, le'd May 2, 1946, now Patent 2,572,498, October23', 1951. Reference is made tothe said applicationfor various. features of the machine not hereinv fully shown and described` A machine of the type referred to includes. a ber magazine carrying a massl of. transversely arranged bers, and includesv a twistingmechanism :spaced fromA the magazine, being: preferably forwardly spaced. 'Associatedf' with they fiber magazine and with the twisting mechanism isa movable carrier which is.- reciprocatedi. between a magazine station adjacent the magazine and. a twisting station adjacent the twistingmechanism. As the carrier is moved to the magazine station a longitudinal wire is placedv thereon; and atfthemagazine station a layer; of' transverse fibers is transferred from the magazine andplacedzon the carrierabove the said wire.` As. the .carrier is moved to the twisting. station a second wiret is placed thereon above. thev layer of bers, andi in the twisting station the two wires areengaged by grippingdevices, onepof whichisirotatable. The rotation ofY the rotatable gripping; devicev twists the wires so'astc grip. the layenof fibers between them and-a brush of the" twistedJ wire-type is formed'. Y

They present, inventiona relates; particularly to the ber magazine of"Y thevv machinev and to the parts directly associatedtherewitll. The maga-V zineis essentially azrectangular container open at the top and atthe bottom,v andtransversely arrangediibers are-placedtherein.bythe operator sothat a sumcienty supply is always maintained. Movable across thewbcttom: of the magazine are two similar, but oppositely-,formedy slicing knives or bars, whichare'reciprocatedi inunison seas to move in one direction during one cycle and-in the opposite direction vduring ythe next following cycle?. v VThebottom faces of these-bars terminate in points attheir adjacent ends and thecsaid bars have inclined faces extending upward from their pointed ends.V At the beginning'of each cycle'one of the slicingy bars isbeneath. the-,mass of -bers in the magazine andthe` otherfslicingrbariis at one side. During the cycle the iirst said bar is withdrawn from beneath the fibers, which move downward sol as to be supported by' the movable lbercarrier, and at'the same time the second said bar is moved through the fibersA lin thefmaga'zine so as to'serve to sliceoff a layer of'bers, which ylayerf-rernains-on the carrier. During each slicing movementvthe main. massy of' bers, above the' sliced oi'l'ayer,y isvfcrce'd upward-by the lastA said 'slicing bar.

It has been'. found that, in machines as' heretofore constructed, the fibers immediately adjacent each ndwall of the magazine frequently fail to move downward to the full extent permitted by the retreating slicing bar with thefresultthat no fibers, or'4 an insuicient quantity of fibers, Iare depositedonthei` corresponding endoffthe carrier.V

Thusthel layer of' fibers sliced offlby the advancing-"slicing bar'fis. deficient at" the said end 'In accordancewith. the present invention each end wall ofthe: magazine-f is vertically movable in unison with. the movements-of. theslicingbarsiso layer; of' bers on theiA corresponding end portion of the. carrier;

The present inventionrelates. not only tothe verticallyzmovable magazineendwall's, butV also to l various other parts associated therewith.

. TheI drawings show/'in detail. a preferred embodiment off. the invention, but it will.l be understood that?. various.v changesv may bev 'madeA Vfrom the construction shown, and. that the drawings are notte be' construed vas dening orf-.limiting the scope-ofi' the invention, the claimsformingrfa `part of this: specification. being; relied upon Afor that; purpose. v f Of ,the-f drawings: Y' l Fig.. 1 isa-irontview of the ber magazinefof a machine. embodying; the invention, together with -various-parts vassociated with the. magazine; Fig; 2 isfaztransverse vertical! sectional view of the carrier: taken .along` theY line 2-2'.of Fig. 1; 'i

- Fig.- `3-'is a' transverserverticalt sectional view taken-alongitheline 3 3. of Eig. 1.

Fig. 14 is. a longitudinal verticalsectionali view taken alongA the linee-lof Fig. 3. Fig; -isgarhorizontal'sectional view taken'. along the-line 5.-'-5 of. Fig. 1. f 1- Fig. 6 is4 a transverse` vertical sectional taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. l.

Figa', 7 islartransversevertical' sectional viewy taken: along the 1ine1T-T of Fig. 1. v

Fig.y 8' is a transverse vertical ysectional view takenalong the linee 8-8 of Fig; 1.

Referring' to? thedrawings, I 0 is' a t'Jarrier. which is reciprocatedv between a magazine staview be reciprocated vertically to properly cooperate' with the nber magazine and with the twisting mechanism. When the carrier is at the rear it is in a relatively elevatediposit-ion .and 'when-f '1 'f studs carry a vertical plate 52 which constitutes it is at the front it is in a lower position.

The carrier l has parallel longitudinal front' r"into the corresponding bar. .38 and 4U serve to support the member 34.

and rear walls I4 and i6 adapted to support-a layer of transversely positioned bers F. Preferably the said walls are provided with teeth or serrations which serve to hold the bers in their transverse positions.v The end walls of thecar- .rierarer notched to receive-a lower longitudinal y asuitable means, notfshown, is provided forverticallyfreciprocating the slide 22 andthe'carrier :lll asffthe main1slide-z-l2is horizontally-recipvrocated.- lAs Athe main slide l2'is moved-rearward,A the slide 22 and the carrier. l0 arelmoved upward; to the position shown in-Figs. v1 land :3. firs..l the main slide is moved rearward, theslide 22Qand the carrierzlllv aremoved' downward to a, position, not shown," where the carrier is adja- ,fcentfa twisting mechanism.v f' f --The slide ,-2-2 has .avertical hole 26 whichcomjmunicates .with lthe interior of 'the carrierY eX- tension'ZmV The lower end of the Aholel isconnected with a suitable exhaust means so as rto vmaintain a partial vacuum within the carrier.

1 During each cycle the carrieris moved rear'- ward and `also upwardztothe magazine station, and a lowerwire W is Vdeposited thereon lin the `notches inthe carrier endfwall's .before itreaches ,the said station. Preferably, thefwire is ldeposited 'automatically `during rearwardmovement by emeansfof, a suitable wirefeeding mechanism, as discl'osedin the said copending application. At the magazine station transverse fibers F are distributed on the carrier in the mannerlto'be described in detail. Immediately .following the distribution of bers onv the carrier,- the'zsaid' carrier is -moved downward .and Aforward v to 1a .twisting station.- During forward and-ldownward move# mentthe partial. vacuum Lin lthe carrier' maintains, the bers" in'pla'cer An .upperf wire, not

shown, "is deposited-on thefcar'rier 'above-'the 4 metal member 34, the main longitudinal portion of which constitutes the rear wall of the magazine. The member is provided at its ends with forward extending vertical flanges 36, 36. At the inner sides of the respective flanges 36 are vertical supporting bars 38 and 40 which are connected at their upper ends to brackets 4Z, 42

Screws 46 extend through each ange 36 and rIhus the two bars Extending forward from the lower portion of -each of the bars 33 and 46 are two headed studs 48 and 56, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. These the front ,wall of the lower portion of the magazine. y' The plate 52 has inverted keyhole slots for receiving the studs 48 and 'bottom notches for receiving the studs 50. These studs and notches permit ready removal of the plate. Preferably, the pla-te 52 is formed of transparent materialiso that the fibers yinthe ,lowers portion =of ,the magazine can be readily seen.

vPreferablyg'the screws 46 extend through -horizontal slots 54 in the'flanges`r 36 asshown in Fig. 3. These slots permitthe member 434 to 'be adjusted forward or rearward from the position shown so as to accommodate fibers lF 0f shorter; or longer-length. .-When the member `36 is adjusted in one direction, the plate 52 is correspondingly adjustedy in the. opposite direction.l This .is effected by turning the studs '48 and fso that they project to lesser or greater extents from the bars `:t3-and 40. Alternatively, studs of shorter or longer 'lengths maybe -substituted.Y M The magazine is provided'with two longitudinally spaced end Iwalls which yare vertically movable independently ofy each other. These vertically movable end walls may .be variously supported and guided and one suitable construction for this purpose is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail.

Secured to the vertical bar 38 are .two superposed `brackets 56, 55 which extend" toward the left. `The brackets'55,56 carry transverse' pins '58, 58, each-of which has `two rollers 60,' 60'thereon at opposite sides of the corresponding bracket. A vertical right end wall 62 is provided for the magazine, this end wall engaging the rollers 60, Atl) and being vertically movable. Connected with the end wall 62 and spacedvtowardr the right therefrom are two' pairs of guide bars 64,64, the bars of each pair beingjat opposite sides of the correspondingbracket.= 'These guide' bars are so positioned that their" left 'faces can engage the rollers 60, 60. 'Thus the rollers serve to guide the end wall for vertical movement.Y The spaces betweenthe walll- (i2VV and the guide -bars 64, 64 are slightly' g'raterf'than' the-'diameter of the rollers. 'Averticalileft 'endwall 66 isrpfr'ovided for'lthe magazine,"this being' also vertically movable. 'I he'lendwall 66 may beconnected with the vertical bar 40 in the sameY Jmanner that thefend wall'62'is connected with'the vertical bar 38. Preferably, however, the left end wall 66 is" adjustable longitudinally of the magazine to change the effective' length thereof. When the end wall @Bis so adjustable it is connected with a vertical bar68 which -is horizontally'adjustable with respect tof-the bar -40.A horizontal rod 69 extends,v throughan aperture in the bar 40, being held in position by a setscrew 10. The bar 68 is secured. to the. right endfcf the @saidnrod 6.3. and is supported in part thereby. Extendingalong the-tonni the. magazine are horizontal.ra1ls..l|. '.Ll..havingaslotbetweenthem. i Thaupner. portion oithe bar. 68 .is connected/with. a .bracket '1.2,V .and this. bracket. i's...secure.d tothe. rails 1|,'...'.|.l.by screws .13.-v YWhen .thescrews 10...and.. 'I3 arefloosened .thefrod 69. and` the .bra ':k'et l2l can b;.adjusted. longitudinally of the.v iriachine; to change. the position. of the bar;l 68.v.-.'I-'l 1 e.ver.

tica'lly movableend wall 66 is. connected. With the walls 62.and166 is provided atthe. bottom, with afroller. 'M for. apurpos'e to bev hereinafter set iaith... i i

Vertical; partitions.. '[8', 18; depend. from the rails'. Tl', Tl, two. such partitions. being shown.

'lhesei partitions are carried' by brackets 80, 8.0

which are adjustable alongtherailsjll, 1|`,.being heldiin placeby bolts 8.2,.782'. When thereare twolpartitionsthev are .so located that thel'ongi-` tudinaldi'stance between the endfwalls 62 and 66 is'dividedintdjthree equal portions.

' vertically movable iin the spacesbetween the partitions and'. between the partitions and'the endwalls are. pressure heads '84, 8'4 adapted; to rest' uponthe fibers.` Heads are.' chosen which are of the'v prop er length' tot thesaid spaces;

Each Vpressure head'` 84" 'is .detachably connected with a verticalro'. guided'. forverticalmovement in a bracket' 881 Each bracketv` 8 8' is adjustable longitudinally ofthe machine in slots 90;. 9'0 formed" in plates'. 92';I 921" carried by; the platform`28; the bracket being heldin adjustedposition. by bolts 9'4', 9,4; 'I'he brackets 88,' 8B' are. longitudinally adjusted in accordance with. the

adjustment of the partitions, 18, .18. 'Prefew ably, each head 84 has' rearward' and: forward extending screws 9.6 andv 98, `the 'screws 96 being adaptedt'o engage the rearwall Stand-the screws 98 being adapted to engage the front plate 52. When: the front' and rearwallsfof"'the` magazine areadjusted for' be'rs'. of diierentf lengths the screws 96' andA 98 are correspondingly adjusted. Each heaciM` j 'asl aA finger piece |00-by which it canbe readilyilifted; f

' Eibers Fare transferred from the bottom of" thev magazine to the carrier in a irlanneifjtobe described, andthemas's Vof fibers inthemagazine; is'replenishedby the operator.l Bunches of'be'rs arev placediinthe spaceslbetweenfthe partitions and between `thepartitionsfand Athe -endwalls.

When' thefbers in-any one' of` the spacesarede#- pleted;"theoperator lifts the corresponding pres'-V sure 'heade'l by means of the iingerv piece- |001l and inserts-a'- bunch of bers. Then-thepressurehead' l's'released tov press against the newlyin- 'sertediibers A Y For :removing fibers from the magazinel anddistributing them-:on the carrier; two similar-but oppositely positioned slicing knives or bans-'|02A and' |0'l|"are` provided. The bottom faces of'these bars terminate at points at their adjacent" ends of. the carrier. l0 W'henthe carreri-sin itsirear.-

ward .and upward position, asshown inthe mes` i l .Y l The. two vsiiin'g tarsf |02. and lua are earned by a.. slide` |06. .which 4 is horizontally reciprocable ina..g11,ide. raill |08 supported'on the platform-:28. .The slide y L06 has two pairsA of foivvardy pro.- .iections |09,.1|.|0, thebar |02v being,v .secured-.to the projectonsat the right andthe .bali .|05 hensecured to.-the..proj eotions atthe left.f1

lTheslide 0.6; carries a rackA HEv which" meshes with.. a.. gear .I 2 I. mountedbn a. transverse-sha@ H4. Located. `at the rear of; the-1 ,machine-i533. longitudinally4 movable raclrfl i6, .which-fmelle. withfagear ||8 onthe said shaft Hd.Y Connected with the rack `I l5 isa bracket .|20 which ,is conf nectedto a longitudinally movable rodl 22. The rod |22 is connected Witha.piston,no.t..shown; whichis movable iniacylinder. |24 shown.i1,1..-1{'1.vg.. 4.. A. suitable valve mechanism is providedwfhich admits duid to thefcylinder |24 to-move.thepi's-` tontherein toward the right or .toward the; left, thuscorrespondingly. moving the rod. |22 andthe rack.| 6. When thepistonand therod are moved towardthe right, as indicated by. the .arrowyin .Eigj- 4'the gearsI-IB., and H2 are.rotated-inthefcloeke wise direction, ,thusmoving .therack' y,l ;|,|.fand :the slicing bars |02. and.-y Hill` toward.v the'right,{asini/x, L dicatedby the arrowsin Figs'. 1. and5. the pistonand the rod |22 are .movedtoward. the left, the described motions are reversed. Tl-'1e valve.- mechanismA is so. controlledA automatically that duringonecycle the. bars are movedtoward the-right, and, sothatduring the nextfiollowing cycle the. bars, arev moved. toward. the: left. ...11? wilibeunderstoodthat during each movement of the bars the carrier. I0. is in;.its. rearward.. and upward. position as shown. in. the drawings.

y When the-carrier |0.first. reaches the position. showninFig. 1 the bars I02andfwlareeithen at their extreme left.. positions. or. .at,}their. extreme right positions. A's soon. as 'the'..carrien reaches `thesaid positionthe valve mechanismds operated. to start .the movement of. the,` barato-J.. wardthe .right or toward ,thealeftf asthe.. case may be. The drawings show the. bars inran-in-rtermediat'e. .position andmovng toward the.rig'htlA Y Secured.- .to the tops. and vbottoms-of thepror. jeetions maand [,I0. on. the slide [0.6 arelongftudinal angle bars |25. and |28. lThese.angle .lrars support a longitudinal.. vertical. plate .L30 '.Which.. is.in .register with the rear wall- 3.4, of Ithe maga.'- zine:` VThe plate |3 0 is aperturedjto receive and tj around thev projections, |00 .and l0.. rlhe upperedgeof 'the platev is immediately adjacentfthe, bottom edgeof the Wall 34, and/thebottomv of' the plate -is below they level of Ithe 'top ofv tirey carrier; By.A meansV not shown-ftheangleibars |26 andi lflicany be moved with respect. to th'epro-L. jectuns.: Hlllfso' that thel pla-te- I 3-0 .can be.adjustedi in accordance with adjustments .of therear WallY 34... TheY platev r| 30 constitutes thelowerA portion f f of. .therear Wallof the magazine, andris in eliect.

a. downward extension. of thewall y31|.. Thetsaid. plate prevents any rearward movement .of ,the. berswhich are below the'bottomoi `the wall. l4.' The plate |30 is" necessarily movable in ardente;

` downward by gravity as oneb'ar 4retreats and are forcedv upward as the other bar advances.

When the bar |02 was in its extremeleft position itwas beneathfallof the "'bers F in the magazine and served to support them. The bar was -also in engagement with the rollers 14,114 at the bottoms of the vertically movable end walls 62 and 66, the said endw'alls being thus held in relatively elevated positions. Movement ofthe bar|02 toward the right tothe position shown ha'spermitted the end wall 66 to move downward by gravity to its lowermost position, and has'v permitted the fibers at the leftside of the magazine to move downward under the influence of the pressure heads 84, 84. A t the extreme left where the bar |02 has uncovered a portion of the carrier, the fibers have moved downward "onto the carrier between the teeth thereon. The movable rear plate |30 prevents rearward movement of the fibers whichhave moved downward. Continued movement ofthe bar |02 toward the right permits the fibers to engage the carrier through the entire length thereof thus establishing a layer of fibers on the carrier. As the bar |02 approaches its extreme right position, the right end wall 6 2 moves downward by gravity with the rlbers to its lowermost position.

As the bar |02 retreats toward the right, `the bar |04 advances in the samev direction and it is forced through the fibers in themagazine. vThe bar |04 lifts all of the bers except thosewhich' are below the lower face of the bar, the last said fibers remaining in a layer on the carrier. Advancing movement of the bar |04 also serves by engagement with the rollers 14, '|4 to lift the two end walls 66 and 62 to their uppermost positions. A layer of fibers has been Vdistributed on thecarrier and the carrier then moves downward and forward as already described to the rollers 60, l60. Ordinarily the rollers are pressed inthe outward directions lby the fibers inthe magazineV and are thus held in engagement with' the rollers. During normal operation the :guide bars 64, 64 'may not engage the rollers, but they nevertheless serve to prevent any substantial inward movements of the end walls.

' ItY will be seen that the two slicing bars are moved in successive cycles rst in one directio'n`-` and then in theopposite direction. las they, so move the two magazine end walls', during each'v cycle, are caused'l tomove successively vdown-- ward as one slicing bar retreats and are caused to move successively upward as thevv other vslicing bar advanc'es. Each oftheverticaljend walls 62 and |56Y is providedwithfia notch extending upward from its'bottom'edge Vas 1cle a rly shown in Fig. '7.1 The notches are'solocated with/respect to the path of movement ofjthefslic'ing bars that theupper portions of the barsenter'the s aid notches. Thus, the bottom edgeof each magazine end wall vis always 'below theupper faceof that portion Vof thel slicing b ar whichis within the notch in the end wall. This is important Aas it prevents any ber from being moved 'longitudinally by the slicing barsunderneath' the end walls. Thebefore-mentioned rollers 1 4 are adjacent' the said notches. 'f When each vertically movable magazine .end wallreaches Vits lowermost position, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, it engages lwith the carrier I4. This prevents anylb'ersfrom escaping longitudinally between the bottom of the end wall and the carrier. y 'Y In prior machines the endwallsof the maga- Zine have not been vertically movable. With a stationary end. wal1 there is a tendency f or some or all of the fibers near the bottom of the 'end wall to be frictionally held by the said Wallfso that they do not move freely downward onto the carrier. The result has Abeen that.the layer lof bers on the carrier did noi-extend throughout the entire length thereof, or was'at least deficient in its extreme end portions. With the present construction the end walls movevertically with the bers and as the fibers near 'the ends ofthe magazine move downward theend walls also move downward, thus insuringV the completelling of the layer at the ends thereof. Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of fthe drawing, it will be seen that the .end wall 66 has moved .downward with the fibers which are adjacer-itthe said end wall, the said bers lbeing thusffully engagedwith the corresponding end portion of the carrier. l In accordance with the invention,.the end walls are movable vertically as described. In addition, provision has been made foradjustments of thel magazine to accommodatev 'bers of diierent lengths and to accommodate carriers of different 1engths.

The invention claimed Y 1'. The combinationin a brush making machine, of a magazine adapted for containing a` mass ofY .transverse horizontal fibers and having. an open bottom, the said magazine. including longitudinally spaced end walls` which arevertically movableindependently of each other, a longituf dinally .extending horizontal carrier-for longitudinal horizontal wires andtranSv'erSe horizontalg bers which -carrier is .movable in. a 'direction'y perpendicular to its .length to\and from a liber.` receiving vposition in-which serves to close the bottom of the magazine, two-similar oppositelydisposed longitudinallyaligned horizontal slicing bars which are longitudinally ,spaced from each' other and which at their inner ends terminate points in the plane oftheir bottom faces'with. upward inclined faces eXtending-oppositely -from. the said points, means -for Vmovingjthe said slicing bars horizontally in unison .through the maga-r zine alternately in opposite directions during 'suc. cessive cycles, the path-of movement of the said slicing bars being such-that thesaid pointsand. bottom-faces thereof move in close proximity. to the vtop-of the carrier in its ber'receiving position so that; the.v retreating bar during each cycleVY permits fibers in the magazine to move downward ascisse onto the carrier-andsothat'tiieadvancing bar during .each cycle lifts the-major. iportion of: the fibers and slices o if a bottom layerlofiibers which remains n the1CafleLallQPS'Q:@using the two magazine end walls duringeach cycle to move successively downward as'onefs'licing bar retreats through nieE magazine and permits manners; to move downward and'for causing" the two* magazine end walls during each cycle to move successively upward as the other slicing bar advances through the magazine and lifts the fibers.

2. A brush making machine as set forth in claim l, wherein each movable magazine end wall upon moving downward engages with lthe carrier to prevent fibers from escaping longitudinally between the bottom of the end wall and the carrier.

3. A brush making machine as set forth in claim l, wherein the means for causing the magazine end walls to move downward and upward includes two elements on the respective end walls directly engageable by both of the slicing bars.

4. The combination in a lbrush making machine, of a magazine adapted for containing a mass of transverse horizontal fibers and having an open bottom, the said magazine including longitudinal spaced end walls which are vertically movable independently of each other and which have notches extending upward from their bottom edges, a longitudinally extending horizontal carrier for longitudinal horizontal wires and transverse horizontal fibers which carrier is movable in a direction perpendicular to its length to and from a fibery receiving position in which it serves to close the bottom of the magazine, two similar opposite-ly disposed longitudinally aligned horizontal slicing bars which are longitudinally spaced from each other and which at their inner ends terminate in points in the plane of their bottom faces with upward inclined faces extending oppositely from the said points, means for moving the said slicing bars horizontally in unison through the magazine alternately in opposite directions during successive cycles, the path of movement of the said slicing :bars being such that the upper portions of the bars enter the notches in the end walls and the path of movement of the said slicing bars beingr also such that the said points and bottom faces thereof move in close proximity to the top of the carrier in its ber receiving position so that the retreating bar during each cycle permits nbers in the magazine to move downward onto the carrier and so that the advancing bar during each cycle lifts the major portion of the fibers and slices 01T a bottom layer of bers which remains on the carrier, and means for causing the two magazine end walls during each cycle to move successively downward as one slicing bar retreats through the magazine and for causing the two magazine end walls during each cycle to move successively upward as the other slicing bar advances through thel magazine, the said means for moving the end walls always maintaining the bottom edge of each end wall below the upper face of that portion of the slicing bar which is within the notch in the end wall.

5. A brush making machine as set forthy in claim 4, wherein the means for causing the yend walls to move downward and upward includes rollers on the end walls adjacent the said notches and engageable with the slicing bars.

6. A brush making machine as set forth in claim 1, comprising two stationary upright supporting bars adjacent the ends of the magazine,

andi E iilthefs'aid'bars-*forguidingthe-jrespectiv end llsffo'v'erticalrmveinentfif y' f7. A A mak gma'chine easfstort *I cla'i wherein superposed stationary rollersare provided adjacent each--endwall-for guiding the verticalmovements thereof. y

8. Al brush` making machine as set forth in claim l, wherein superposed stationary rollers are provided adjacent each end wall for guiding the vertical movements thereof,l and wherein guide bars are connected with the respective end walls and positioned for engagement with the opposite sides of the rollers.

9. A brush making machine as set forth in claim 1, comprising two upright supporting kbars adjacent the ends of the magazine, two similar superposed brackets projecting inward from each upright bar, two rollers positioned at opposite sides of each bracket and engaging the ycorresponding end wall to guide it for vertical movement, and vertical guide bars positioned between each supporting bar and the corresponding end wall and connected with the latter, the guide bars being engageable with the rollers to prevent any substantial movement of the end wall away from the supporting bar.

10. The combination in a brush making machine, of a magazine adapted for containing a mass of transverse horizontal fibers and having an open bottom, the said magazine including f longitudinally spaced end walls which are vertically movable independently of each other, means for longitudinally adjusting one of the vertically movable end walls to change the effective length of the magazine, a longitudinally extending horizontal carrier for .longitudinal horizontal wires and transverse horizontal fibers which carrier is movable in a direction perpendicular to its length to and :from a fiber receiving position in which it serves to close `the bottom of the magazine, two l similar .oppositely disposed longitudinally aligned horizontal slicing bars which are longitudinally spaced from each other and which at their inner ends terminate in points in the plane of their bottom faces with upward inclined faces extending oppositely from the said points, means for moving the said slicing bars horizontally in unison through the magazine alternately in opposite directions during successive cycles, the path of movement of the said slicing :bars being such that the said points and bottom faces thereof move in close proximity to the top of the carrier in its ber receiving position so that the retreating bar during each cycle permits fibers in the magazine to move downward onto the carrier and so that the advancing bar during each cycle lifts the major portion of the bers and slices off a bottom layer of bers which remains on the carrier, and means for causing the two magazine end walls during each cycle to move successively.

downward as one slicing bar retreats through the magazine and permits the fibers to move downward and for causing the two magazine end walls to move successively upward as the other slicing bar advances through the magazine and lifts the fibers.

11. A brush making machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein the means for causing the magazine end walls to move downward and upward includes two elements on the respective end galls directly engageable by both of the slicing ars.

l2. A brush making machine as set forth in 11 12 means on the said bars for guiding the respecpive REFERENCES CITED end Walls for Vertical movement andnmeans fox.' The following efeiences re of record in the adjusting one of the supporting barsrnlongirtlrldime of this patent: nally of the magazine to correspondingly adjust'.` Y the endWall guided thereon. y 5 A vUNITED ,STATES PATENTS i Numberv Y. Name Date ALFRED L. LE FEBVRE. 521,630 Besson June 19,'1894 ,19,513,443l I. Icave sept. v19. 194g 

